TOPIC: AGROCHEMICAL USE IN CAPSICUM SPP.

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MALAYSIA PERSPECTIVES

NAME BHARATHAAN A/L SARAVANAN

NO. MATRIC F22A0106

COURSE CODE SBL2

SUBJECT FPE2113 - CHEMICALS IN AGRICULTURE

LECTURER PROF. MADYA. DR. KUMARA THEVAN A/L

KRISHNAN
INTRODUCTION

One of the most prevalent and lucrative vegetable crops in the Solanaceae family is
capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.). It is sometimes referred to as shimla mirch, bell pepper,
or sweet pepper. It is an annual crop with origins in South and Central America. According
to Jean et al., 2013, because capsicum is grown so extensively throughout Africa, people
there view pepper as a traditional condiment or as a fruit or vegetable. On the other hand,
in India, capsicum is considered a high-value crop as the consumption keeps increasing
with greater demands by urban consumers (Shukla, et al., 2016). All climatic and tropical
continents are home to Solanaceae species, however, the western hemisphere has by far the
most biodiversity of the family. Many of the most significant agricultural species in the
world are found in the Solanaceae family, which also includes tobacco, petunia, tomatoes,
potatoes, eggplants, chilli peppers, and several other crops of regional importance.

After long beans, chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) is regarded as the second most popular fruit
in Malaysia, which explains capsicum species being the fruiting vegetable that most
Malaysians like to include in their everyday cuisine. Twenty-five species of the genus are
cultivated all over the world. Domesticated plants include C. annuum, C. chinense, C.
frutescence, C. pubescence, and C. baccatum. (Sudré et al., 2010; Ibiza et al., 2012). Farmers
in Malaysia frequently grow the Capsicum annuum L. variation like ‘Kulai’ because of its
high economic value among the species. Most Malaysians consume capsicum in the form of
powder, dried, and fresh. Based on the Department of Agriculture Malaysia, in the year
2023, 35347mt of Capsicum species vegetables were produced nationwide. Most of the
capsicums produced were from Kelantan, Pahang, and Johor. (JPM, 2023).

AGROCHEMICAL USE DURING CULTIVATION

Nursery

Capsicum species plants are mostly planted from seeds. It takes about 200–300g of seeds to
cultivate one hectare of chilis. The seeds can be sown in planting trays with Peat Gro or
nursery beds that have been thoroughly prepared in fertile soil. Due to that for healthy
growth of the seedling foliar fertilizers and agrochemicals are necessary. The agrochemicals
that are used are Mono ammonium phosphate (MAP) and Copper oxychloride (COC). Mono
ammonium Phosphate contains 12% of nitrogen and 61% of phosphorus. The amount of
application is 3 grams per litre. This helps plants rely on sustained growth before
transplanting. Copper oxychloride (3g/L) will be applied to the seedlings which is a kind of
fungicide that is frequently applied to crops to prevent a variety of fungal infections. All
agrochemicals are water-soluble, which can mixed and applied. This has to apply before
transplanting. (Hegazi A. M., et al., 2017).

Land preparation

For land preparation agrochemicals that will be used are chicken dung and dolomite. This
will be prepared before transplanting the Capsicum species seedlings to land. Chicken
Dung is an organic fertilizer that is cheaply available for farmers. Chicken dung can enhance
the development, productivity, and quality of capsicum species. Dolomite can boost
capsicum species plant growth, mature fruit yield, and P uptake efficiency. Before
transplanting, a base fertilizer dose of 20:25:20 NPK per acre must be administered evenly
to the beds in the form of 80 kilograms of calcium ammonium nitrate, 125kg of
superphosphate, and 32kg of mutate of 40kg of potash sulphate or potash. NPK fertilizers
can be applied also according to the ratio for the fertility of the soil and are rich in
nutrients. (Hebbar, S. S., et al., 2012, Khandaker, M. M., et al., 2017, Cahyono, et al., 2023).

Fertilizer application

For Capsicum cultivation NPK fertiliser has to be applied in a ratio of 12:12:17:2+TE at

30g/plant every two weeks until the crop is finished, contingent on the fertility of the soil.
These fertilizers sometimes will be applied through the drip irrigation system. 2-4 times of
water per square meter per day depending on the season will apply to the plants.
Potassium nitrate and calcium nitrate will be spayed in water-soluble form every 3 weeks
after 2 months of transplanting. Nitrogen helps to grow green leaves, Phosphorus promotes
the growth of roots and fruits, and Potassium facilitates the uptake of nutrients and
photosynthesis. (Hebbar, S. S., et al., 2012, Lim, L. L., et al., 2016).

AGROCHEMICAL IN HERBICIDE
Herbicides are used to selectively destroy weeds and promote the growth of plants, which
significantly boost crop yield. Capsicum annuum L. initially grows slowly and becomes
plagued with broad-leaf and grassy weeds, which creates intense competition for nutrients,
moisture, light, and space for them to keep growing healthily. Studies by Sharma et al.
(1988) and Narayana Rao (1990) found that weeds caused a 60% - 80% yield loss in chilli
plants. Adding to that, using chemical herbicides instead of manual labour can increase the
output of yields by about 10%. Phenoxy acid, benzoic acid, phenolic, dinitroaniline,
carbamate, urea, sulfonylurea, s-triazine, quarternary ammonium, and organophosphate
are a few examples of synthetic herbicides.

A diphenyl-ether herbicide called oxyfluorfen is used in a range of tree fruit, nut, vine and
field crops including capsicum to provide broad-spectrum pre-emergent and
post-emergent control of annual broadleaf and grassland weeds. The product is a Group G
herbicide for managing weed resistance. Adding to that, there are forestry and decorative
non-agricultural uses of oxyfluorfen. In residential settings, it is also used to manage weeds
on patios, driveways, and other similar areas. The active constituent for this herbicide is
240g/L oxyfluorfen with 606g/L of liquid hydrocarbon and 108g/L of n-methyl pyrrolidone
as solvents. Consistent application of Evident Oxyfluorfen 240 herbicide to the base of trees
is done using a low-pressure herbicide sprayer that has been precisely calibrated (Semidey
et al., 1989). Furthermore, there is a plant protection chemical called
glufosinate-ammonium, a Group 10 herbicide that blocks an enzyme essential to plant
metabolism. It is used for capsicum spp and other chilli plantations too. This material is
mainly absorbed by plants through the leaves as well as other green components.
Glufosinate-ammonium is only effective as a contact herbicide in areas where it comes into
touch with the plant. This makes it possible for it to suppress weeds without damaging the
roots or necessitating tillage, which is especially crucial in regions that are vulnerable to
erosion. The active ingredient in this Glufosinate 280 is 24.5% glufosinate-ammonium and
75.5% of other ingredients. Spraying of this herbicide should only be done on branches that
are mature or callused brown bark that are shielded from the spray. When Glufosinate 280
comes into contact with any portion of the plant other their mature brown barks, it can
cause significant harm to the crops.

AGROCHEMICAL IN PESTICIDE
While plant-based insecticides (PBI) have been used for centuries to control insects and
pests before and after the harvest season of crops, their potential has been rather limited
and they have been disregarded (Oparaeke et al., 2005). PBIs are becoming increasingly
useful and act as efficient solutions in integrated pest management (IPM) practices these
days to advance human health, environmental sustainability, and agricultural productivity
across the globe. In this sense, several researches have been done on the potential of
capsicum spp. as a biopesticide to manage insects that feed on different plant parts. The
fruit's cracks are where the female fly will deposit her eggs. As the larvae feed on the fruit,
the fruit rots and sustains significant harm. Hence, removing and discarding impacted fruits
from the tree or the ground can help lower the number of Atherigona sp i.e. fruit borers.
During a severe infestation, insecticides like deltamethrin and cypermethrin can be applied.
Deltamethrin is a typical pesticide used to manage pests on a range of crops, including
capsicum plants. It is a member of the synthetic pyrethroid class, which is based on the
natural insecticides called pyrethrins that are present in chrysanthemum blooms. It is
essential to adhere to the manufacturer's instructions and guidelines regarding dosage,
application technique, and safety measures when using deltamethrin on capsicum plants.
The common pest that usually attacks the capsicum plants are Aphis spp., Bactrocera
dorsalis, Helicoverpa armigera, Scirtothrips dorsalis and Thirps spp. Approximately 300ml of
deltamethrin should be applied at a rate of 5 litres per 100 square meters after diluting it
with 8 litres of water. This can be applied when the plant is after 2.5 months. (Lim L. L. et
al., 2016, Lim T. L. et al., 2007, Rehman H. et al., 2014).

AGROCHEMICAL IN DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Despite being widely grown by farmers, capsicum spp., belonging to the family of
Solanaceae, is prone to a variety of diseases that can strike at any time before or after the
harvest season (Nurulhuda et al., 2009). Therefore, certain disease management chemicals
and techniques are necessary to curb such issues. Disease outbreaks have compelled most
farmers to employ large amounts of insecticides to preserve high-yield crops to maximize
their profits. It is preferable to apply artificial fertiliser to ensure continual capsicum output
throughout. However, regular use of chemical fertilisers can raise the risk of nitrate
leaching and surface runoff, which can contaminate ground and surface waters (Zhu et al.,
2005). The complex of chilli fruit rot, for example, could not be eradicated by a single
targeted management program. Integrated management solutions are typically employed
to effectively manage complex challenges (Machenahalli et al., 2016). Symptoms of mild to
severe mosaic, yellow mosaic, leaf twist, prickly stunt, necrosis, etc, are caused by several
viral infections that affect this crop. The bacteria known as Ralstonia solanacearum is the
source of bacterial wilt in capsicum spp., a disease that causes plants to wilt in the
advanced stages of infection. During the dry season, wilting is more noticeable in this
particular case. Unfortunately, the capsicum plants contaminated with Ralstonia
solanacearum bacteria have no known remedy as a solution. Thus, the only method to
prevent other healthy plants from being infected is by eliminating the effects from the batch
of crops. Next, the vector of leaf malformation and curl disease caused by the chilli leaf curl
virus is the viruliferous whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Genn.). Similar to bacterial wilt, another
wilting of capsicum plant is the Sclerothalium wilt that is caused by Sclerothalium rolfsii
fungi. In this case, the white mycelia of the fungus are frequently visible at the collar region
of the affected plant's stem. If the plant has not withered too much, the disease can simply
be controlled with fungicidal sprays of carbendazim or thiophanate methyl. Carbendazim is
a systematic fungicide that will be absorbed rapidly by the roots and green plant tissues
after application. It is referred to as a preventive activity when used before any infection
since it kills the germination spores and stops the disease from spreading. When given after
the infection has begun, it targets the mycelium that is forming and stops its spread by
inhibiting sporulation which is known as a curative activity. Thiophanate methyl on the
other side contains products like thiosin M-70 and topcide M-70. This substance helps with
issues like the spotting of leaves (Cercospora capsici) of the capsicum spp. Besides that,
fungicides like mancozeb, chlorothalonil, and azoxystrobin also help with disease
management of capsicum plants such as rotting of fruits and anthracnose. They aid in
stopping the anthracnose-causing fungus from spreading. The crucial products in
mancozeb that help with its functions include Manzeb 80 and Winner M-45. Anthracnose in
chillies is caused by the fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and C. capsici. The rainy
season makes this condition worse and as the fruit ripens, this particular illness is more
vulnerable to emerge. According to Liang et al. (2005), silicon is an agronomical fertiliser
that can improve plant resistance to abiotic stressors. Hence, as one of the solutions to crop
issues, the application of silicon (Si) nutrient concentrations can enhance the growth
performance of capsicum spp. while reducing the disease incidence of the plants after
transplanting (Lob, S. et al., 2017).

CONCLUSION
The majority of chemicals used in the agricultural platforms have been very useful and
life-changing solutions to many farmers and produce companies as these agrochemicals aid
in maximizing crop production and increasing yields for higher profit. Agrochemicals also
contribute to maintaining the good health of growing crops. It can be observed from the
significant effects of agrochemical use on plants by their height, number of leaves, diameter
of leaves and stems, and disease incidence. Many farmers may benefit from this additional
nutrient in producing higher-quality crops and lowering the expense of managing diseases
in their cultivation area. Of all the veggies, capsicums have the highest overall pesticide
usage (Shukla, V. R., et al., 2017). Sometimes when applying some herbicides and pesticides,
safety measures must be applied for farmers. Before handling the toxicity or hazardous
chemicals, protective clothing and equipment are a must. Mostly, biopesticide or
bioherbicide, some organic matters recommended due to sustainability of the environment.
This is due to, pesticides and herbicides that contain chemicals that are more harmful to the
environment compared to organic materials contain. From Malaysia's perspective, the
agrochemicals used in capsicum spp. are more likely chemical contains. Chemicals
contained in fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides are showing reaction faster. Therefore,
agrochemical uses in capsicum spp. increase profitability by increasing the productivity of
crops.

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